Pat Kenny has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA).

Tributes were paid to the Newstalk broadcaster from celebrities including Celine Dion - Kenny hosted the Eurovision Song Contest the year Dion won for Switzerland.

Other highlights saw 'Red Rock' receive Best Soap for second year; Brendan O’Carroll took Best Male Performance for 'Mrs Browns Boys', and 'Bridget and Eamon' won two IFTAs, for Best Comedy and Best Director Soap/Comedy.

Host Amanda Byram | Image via @IFTA on Twitter

The IFTA Gala Television Awards will be broadcast on TV3 tomorrow night.

Al Porter picked up the Gala TV Rising Star Award, while Bob Geldof spoke from the stage about his IFTA winning documentary about Yeats.

Amanda Byram hosted the show, which saw 'First Dates Ireland' crowned Best Reality - while Daniel and Majella's B&B took Best Factual.

'Mrs Brown's Boy' Rory Cowan | Image via @IFTA on Twitter

Some 23 Academy categories were presented, with winners including Sharon Horgan for Best Female Performance and Best Writer (Soap and Comedy) for 'Catastrophe', and COCO Television won Best Documentary Series for the Liam Neeson narrated '1916 The Irish Rebellion'.

RTÉ presenter Miriam O'Callaghan | Image via @IFTA on Twitter

'I Am Immigrant' won Best Single Documentary, and drama 'An Klondike' took the Best Irish Language award.

Mícheál Ó Meallaigh was awarded an IFTA for his Outstanding Contribution to the Industry and the Irish Language by Gráinne Seoige, for his achievements as Commissioning Director of TG4 for 20 years.